Dreamgirls revival at the Apollo

A new national tour of "Dreamgirls" will kick off next year at Harlem's Apollo Theater, which is where the opening scene of the musical takes place!

The revival, directed and choreographed by Bobby Longbottom, will premiere in November 2009 at the legendary theater where many great entertainers including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr., and James Brown first won acclaim.

The show's producers will hold open auditions at the theater to cast the three Dreams, a female singing group that is the focus of the musical.

"The prospect that we may discover the Dreams at the Apollo, where so many stars were discovered, just adds to our excitement in bringing this great musical back to the stage," producer John Breglio said in a statement.

"Dreamgirls," which has music by Henry Krieger and book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, opened on Broadway in 1981 and featured Jennifer Holliday in the pivotal role of Effie White. It was directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett.

The show was revived on Broadway in 1987 with Lillias White as Effie. Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar for her performance as Effie in the 2006 film version of the musical.

Photo: Getty Images

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